MTFCA Forum

Hi, everyone. I have a question about my new project's radiator: the lower fitting seems to be iron and it is badly rotted. I thought a replacement might be soldered onto the lower tank, but I am yet to find one for sale. I am headed to a local long-time radiator repair shop Monday, hoping I can find some help there.
Meanwhile, it seems unreasonable to pay $1000 or more for a new radiator for a 1920s Model T. Just my opinion.

Call Lang’s and ask them if they have one as they have a fair supply of NOS and good used T parts. Rootlieb used to sell individual T radiator parts but not sure now because off supply issues. Good luck!
If you have to you can make one out of brass tubing. Not real easy but can be done.

With suppliers closing up shop left and right, and cottage-industry tradesmen ceasing production even faster, a new $1000 radiator will seem like a bargain in a few years.

Good luck with patching up an old one...you're certain it cools, right?

Good luck with patching up an old one...you're certain it cools, right?

Before spending any dough on a new outlet, I would cobble up some kind of repair with JB Weld or the like and find lout if the radiator still radiates. I wouldn't want to spend much on a real fix of the outlet if it doesn't cool anymore. The fins need to be tight on the tubes to dissipate heat, and on a lot of these old radiators a hundred years of vibration has loosened up the fins so they no longer work. If you find that the radiator actually does work, then you can go ahead and look for a better outlet. The cast iron outlet is Part #4004. I don't believe anybody is reproducing it, so it will be a scrounge item.

I have a pattern to cast a new one in brass. Might even have one in stock. Have you tried Brassworks for a replacement?

Allan from down under.

I junked out lots of radiators a few years ago, and saved the hose connections. If you need 1 let me know. Free

Ok, great; I will know more after consulting the local radiator shop.
This in a project car I was given, and all I need is enough radiator to see if I can get the engine running. This radiator appears to be in good condition, other than the rot in the outlet. I understand old radiators may not cool well and the reasons for this; if I get the engine running I can evaluate the cooling performance. If this project moves forward I can buy a new radiator. It just seems high when a new radiator for a ‘66 Mustang is a fraction of the price and a very similar size.

Good advice about your radiator. They can still look “good” but can definitely fool you. Been there and done that. Do as others have mentioned and use some JB weld and some pieces of tail pipe or tubing to fix a decent repair and see if the radiator works.

If it doesn’t you can have it recored for around $6-700.00. Still not real cheap but you will have a T that you can run and not worry about gurgling and becoming a geyser. And yes a new one is around 1000.00 and won’t get any cheaper.

Like most or all old car hobbies you have to pay to play no matter how old they are.